The first part of the exam will consist in analysing an extract from an action/adventure film. This will be between three to five minutes long and will be typical in some way of the action/adventure genre.The extract will be chosen because it not only fits the genre, but it clearly represents people in a certain way. You will be asked questions on: genre conventions (what you're doing for homework) media language (camera, editing, mise en scene and sound) and representation. Q1)
What makes it an action adventure film? You may have to concentrate on typical or atypical narratives (action), settings (city, night, jungle etc), themes (revenge, justice, good vs evil), icons (weapons)
Storyline and Plot:
Tease out the differences between these two terms. Think about the characteristics of Action Adventure films in having fast moving plots which provide plenty of excitement and tension.
Structure:
All Action Adventure films have recognisable narrative structures which offer a way of examining how a story is organised and shaped in terms of time and events. It is interesting to explore the rules of narrative structure with regard to Action Adventure. For example a defining feature of narrative is the high degree of narrative closure, with all problems resolved and/or our hero triumphant. So in addition to linear structure, narrative can often be seen in terms of oppositional structure too, as a fight between forces of good and evil.
Main characters:
All Action Adventure films have a recognisable heroic central character, a hero or heroine who is able to overcome incredible odds. Whilst some films feature brave heroines, most narratives are organised around traditional gender roles. Teachers might want to explore the extent to which modern films have challenged traditional female (and male) stereotyping.
Oppositional characters:
Action Adventure films tend to feature characters that play opposite the key central character, for example either in the form of a relationship (hero/heroine) or in conflict (hero/villain).
Journey/Quest
Action Adventure films often involve central characters working towards a final goal (such as seeking treasure). These narratives take place against the backdrop of a variety of exotic and sometimes glamorous locations. These can range from desert landscapes to urban settings. Not only can their use provide the audience with visual pleasures, but the location itself can serve an important narrative function as central characters find themselves battling with the challenges presented by it e.g. surviving earthquakes, struggling, through jungles etc.
Themes
Chase, race against time, survival, revenge, love - why is the action taking place? What is driving our hero/es forward?
Q1 Will always be in reference to how the extract is from the action adventure genre.
NARRATIVE
Narrative led films with tightly woven story arcs, where the dialogue drives the plot rather than builds character.
An action adventure film is essentially one long quest with a succession of different chase sequences, each one more death defying and seemingly impossible than the one before. The trick for the producers is to ramp up the tension as the film progresses to a storming end sequence. Will our intrepid explorers make it, or will the evil antagonist get there first.
A strong story ark of a quest for treasure, or an incredibly valuable object, or an item which has occult power.
Love interest that both hinders and supports the main quest.
A fast moving narrative with constant set backs that are overcome one by one, leading to fairly complex plots.
In many respects this genre of films derive their energy from being more exciting, more adult and much more dangerous versions of children’s stories of adventure such as Enid Blighton’s Famous Five or Arthur Ransome’s Swallows and Amazons.
Thrilling action where the protagonist saves his fellow travellers through a variety of non realistic but apparently logical escapades. CHARACTERS & LOCATIONS
These are not realistic films, although the characters must be believable. They are set in a stereotypical world of the not too distant past e.g the 1930s, or the fictional world of storybook adventures e.g. The high seas of the 19th century.
A main protagonist who is a recognisably normal guy, and who just happens to have amazing powers of endurance in the face of extreme danger, and is also very clever. Indiana Jones is an archaeology lecturer in an US university. Captain Jack Sparrow is at first an ordinary good for nothing pirate with incredible agility and luck, although he later takes on supernatural powers.
There are always helpers who are a team of innocent characters who happen to get caught up in the action.
Humorous dialogue often diffuses taught and sometimes frightening situations.
The characters take the twist and turns of the plot very seriously as they are often in mortal danger from an assortment of unusual animals, machines and monsters orchestrated by an evil antagonist.
Exotic locations where the characters have to contend with extremes of climate, as well as evil forces.
The aim is to please the audience by keeping them on the edge of their seats through a series of mind boggling chases, exotic locations and hair raising adventures in historically inaccurate but somehow elementally possible settings.
Action Adventure films are designed to create an action-filled, energetic experience for the audience who can live vicariously through the exotic locations, conquests, explorations, struggles and situations that confront the main characters.
What makes it an action adventure film? You may have to concentrate on typical or atypical narratives (action), settings (city, night, jungle etc), themes (revenge, justice, good vs evil), icons (weapons)
Storyline and Plot:
Tease out the differences between these two terms. Think about the characteristics of Action Adventure films in having fast moving plots which provide plenty of excitement and tension.
Structure:
All Action Adventure films have recognisable narrative structures which offer a way of examining how a story is organised and shaped in terms of time and events. It is interesting to explore the rules of narrative structure with regard to Action Adventure. For example a defining feature of narrative is the high degree of narrative closure, with all problems resolved and/or our hero triumphant. So in addition to linear structure, narrative can often be seen in terms of oppositional structure too, as a fight between forces of good and evil.
Main characters:
All Action Adventure films have a recognisable heroic central character, a hero or heroine who is able to overcome incredible odds. Whilst some films feature brave heroines, most narratives are organised around traditional gender roles. Teachers might want to explore the extent to which modern films have challenged traditional female (and male) stereotyping.
Oppositional characters:
Action Adventure films tend to feature characters that play opposite the key central character, for example either in the form of a relationship (hero/heroine) or in conflict (hero/villain).
Journey/Quest
Action Adventure films often involve central characters working towards a final goal (such as seeking treasure). These narratives take place against the backdrop of a variety of exotic and sometimes glamorous locations. These can range from desert landscapes to urban settings. Not only can their use provide the audience with visual pleasures, but the location itself can serve an important narrative function as central characters find themselves battling with the challenges presented by it e.g. surviving earthquakes, struggling, through jungles etc.
Q2)
Moving image – Camerawork: • Establishing shots • Low angle, high angle, canted angle or aerial shots • Elaborate camera movement such as tracks, steadicam or crane shots • Hand-held camera • Point-of-view shots • Shallow focus and focus pulls. Moving image – Editing: • Shot/reverse shot • Non-continuity editing • Crosscutting • Fast-paced editing • Less common transitions: dissolve, wipe, fade • Post-production effects.
Moving image – Mise en scène: • Lighting (especially low-key lighting) • Location/set • Costume and make-up • Props • Casting and performance style • Blocking (the composition of elements within the shot).
Q3) This is the representation question:
At it's simplest, representation is about how people are depicted in the extract. You can look at how other things are being represented such as places, events, aliens, monsters, ideas - but it is best to start with people. Stereotyping is such as big issue in representation that it I often the best place to start. What stereotypes of people do you often find in action/adventure films?
Look carefully at the representations in the film. Do the main characters conform to representations that we can understand as real people.
Is Robin a hyper real superhero (Superman?) or is he down to earth and essentially human – what events and details display his character.
Maid Marian is arguably the most modern individual represented in the film – why?
In any film look at:
How different genders are represented.
How different age groups are represented.
How the representations construct our emotional connection with the characters.
What effects the representations have on the audience.
Whether the representations can be interpreted in different ways.
January26th Computer room - finish your camera shots and angles moviemaker or powerpoint and also add the new category of Mise En Scene - Costume, Lighting, Actors, Makeup, Props , Setting (this is the largest section and should include urban, suburban, rural as well as day and night shots and unusual locations etc)- find action adventure images on google. If you have a youtube account you can then upload yourselves or I will upload it through mine and we can put link on to the wikispaces.
January 19th Computer room - make sure you are finishing your homework and uploading it on to your wiki. Also please make sure your Rebel controlled assessment, dvd cover and poster are on there. I will be emailing your parents next week with the homework news, if you are having trouble finishing these tasks you need to find time after school to complete them. Today's task: Create a powerpoint with the heading Camera shots, google different shots: low angle, medium shot, high angle shots , also find shots for close up, medium shot, long shots and extreme long shots (if you can find action adventure shots even better and discuss why they used that particular shot and what the effect is). January 12th Computer room - please upload your action adventure charts onto your wikispaces, any problems please ask. Search for your favourite action adventure film of all time and describe it's setting, themes, characters, icons, narrative, characters and find some images to go with it. Also upload this onto your blog. January 5th Computer room
Create a chart similar to the teen movies one you produced naming as many different kinds of action adventure genres (ie disaster, historical, war etc see if you can come up with 10!) as possible down the left hand side and include the headings - Settings, Themes, Icons, Narrative, Characters and Film titles along the top. Your first homework this term will be to complete this chart. Any questions just ask or email!
Homeworks this half term due every Wednesday -
January 12th - action/adventure genre chart January 19th - storyboard an action adventure trailer January 26th - practise exam paper February 2nd - practise paper
Thank you to Claudia and Paige for their presentations last week, really useful for everyone to revise from for the exam in March. Katie will finish hers tomorrow and I want everyone else ready to present. Liv you must fill in your analysis as your presentation was empty. After Christmas we'll get into sitcom groups and present our ideas and in Feb we will study action adventure films and revise camera, editing, mise en scene and sound in preparation for the year 10 exam.
Past papers
Watch and read the following:
http://www.screenonline.org.uk/education/teachingwithfilm/filmtechniques.html
http://www.screenonline.org.uk/education/teachingwithfilm/introtoediting.html
http://www.screenonline.org.uk/education/teachingwithfilm/understandingfilm.html
The first part of the exam will consist in analysing an extract from an action/adventure film. This will be between three to five minutes long and will be typical in some way of the action/adventure genre.The extract will be chosen because it not only fits the genre, but it clearly represents people in a certain way. You will be asked questions on: genre conventions (what you're doing for homework) media language (camera, editing, mise en scene and sound) and representation.
Q1)
What makes it an action adventure film? You may have to concentrate on typical or atypical narratives (action), settings (city, night, jungle etc), themes (revenge, justice, good vs evil), icons (weapons)
Storyline and Plot:
Tease out the differences between these two terms. Think about the characteristics of Action Adventure films in having fast moving plots which provide plenty of excitement and tension.
Structure:
All Action Adventure films have recognisable narrative structures which offer a way of examining how a story is organised and shaped in terms of time and events. It is interesting to explore the rules of narrative structure with regard to Action Adventure. For example a defining feature of narrative is the high degree of narrative closure, with all problems resolved and/or our hero triumphant. So in addition to linear structure, narrative can often be seen in terms of oppositional structure too, as a fight between forces of good and evil.
Main characters:
All Action Adventure films have a recognisable heroic central character, a hero or heroine who is able to overcome incredible odds. Whilst some films feature brave heroines, most narratives are organised around traditional gender roles. Teachers might want to explore the extent to which modern films have challenged traditional female (and male) stereotyping.
Oppositional characters:
Action Adventure films tend to feature characters that play opposite the key central character, for example either in the form of a relationship (hero/heroine) or in conflict (hero/villain).
Journey/Quest
Action Adventure films often involve central characters working towards a final goal (such as seeking treasure). These narratives take place against the backdrop of a variety of exotic and sometimes glamorous locations. These can range from desert landscapes to urban settings. Not only can their use provide the audience with visual pleasures, but the location itself can serve an important narrative function as central characters find themselves battling with the challenges presented by it e.g. surviving earthquakes, struggling, through jungles etc.
Themes
Chase, race against time, survival, revenge, love - why is the action taking place? What is driving our hero/es forward?
Q1 Will always be in reference to how the extract is from the action adventure genre.
NARRATIVENarrative led films with tightly woven story arcs, where the dialogue drives the plot rather than builds character.
An action adventure film is essentially one long quest with a succession of different chase sequences, each one more death defying and seemingly impossible than the one before. The trick for the producers is to ramp up the tension as the film progresses to a storming end sequence. Will our intrepid explorers make it, or will the evil antagonist get there first.
A strong story ark of a quest for treasure, or an incredibly valuable object, or an item which has occult power.
Love interest that both hinders and supports the main quest.
A fast moving narrative with constant set backs that are overcome one by one, leading to fairly complex plots.
In many respects this genre of films derive their energy from being more exciting, more adult and much more dangerous versions of children’s stories of adventure such as Enid Blighton’s Famous Five or Arthur Ransome’s Swallows and Amazons.
Thrilling action where the protagonist saves his fellow travellers through a variety of non realistic but apparently logical escapades.
CHARACTERS & LOCATIONS
- These are not realistic films, although the characters must be believable. They are set in a stereotypical world of the not too distant past e.g the 1930s, or the fictional world of storybook adventures e.g. The high seas of the 19th century.
- A main protagonist who is a recognisably normal guy, and who just happens to have amazing powers of endurance in the face of extreme danger, and is also very clever. Indiana Jones is an archaeology lecturer in an US university. Captain Jack Sparrow is at first an ordinary good for nothing pirate with incredible agility and luck, although he later takes on supernatural powers.
- There are always helpers who are a team of innocent characters who happen to get caught up in the action.
- Humorous dialogue often diffuses taught and sometimes frightening situations.
- The characters take the twist and turns of the plot very seriously as they are often in mortal danger from an assortment of unusual animals, machines and monsters orchestrated by an evil antagonist.
- Exotic locations where the characters have to contend with extremes of climate, as well as evil forces.
- The aim is to please the audience by keeping them on the edge of their seats through a series of mind boggling chases, exotic locations and hair raising adventures in historically inaccurate but somehow elementally possible settings.
- Action Adventure films are designed to create an action-filled, energetic experience for the audience who can live vicariously through the exotic locations, conquests, explorations, struggles and situations that confront the main characters.
What makes it an action adventure film? You may have to concentrate on typical or atypical narratives (action), settings (city, night, jungle etc), themes (revenge, justice, good vs evil), icons (weapons)Storyline and Plot:
Tease out the differences between these two terms. Think about the characteristics of Action Adventure films in having fast moving plots which provide plenty of excitement and tension.
Structure:
All Action Adventure films have recognisable narrative structures which offer a way of examining how a story is organised and shaped in terms of time and events. It is interesting to explore the rules of narrative structure with regard to Action Adventure. For example a defining feature of narrative is the high degree of narrative closure, with all problems resolved and/or our hero triumphant. So in addition to linear structure, narrative can often be seen in terms of oppositional structure too, as a fight between forces of good and evil.
Main characters:
All Action Adventure films have a recognisable heroic central character, a hero or heroine who is able to overcome incredible odds. Whilst some films feature brave heroines, most narratives are organised around traditional gender roles. Teachers might want to explore the extent to which modern films have challenged traditional female (and male) stereotyping.
Oppositional characters:
Action Adventure films tend to feature characters that play opposite the key central character, for example either in the form of a relationship (hero/heroine) or in conflict (hero/villain).
Journey/Quest
Action Adventure films often involve central characters working towards a final goal (such as seeking treasure). These narratives take place against the backdrop of a variety of exotic and sometimes glamorous locations. These can range from desert landscapes to urban settings. Not only can their use provide the audience with visual pleasures, but the location itself can serve an important narrative function as central characters find themselves battling with the challenges presented by it e.g. surviving earthquakes, struggling, through jungles etc.
Q2)
Moving image – Camerawork:• Establishing shots
• Low angle, high angle, canted angle or aerial shots
• Elaborate camera movement such as tracks, steadicam or crane shots
• Hand-held camera
• Point-of-view shots
• Shallow focus and focus pulls.
Moving image – Editing:
• Shot/reverse shot
• Non-continuity editing
• Crosscutting
• Fast-paced editing
• Less common transitions: dissolve, wipe, fade
• Post-production effects.
Moving image – Soundtrack:
• Music
• Synchronous and asynchronous sound
• Diegetic/non-diegetic sound
• Voiceover
• Sound effects
• Sound bridge
Moving image – Mise en scène:
• Lighting (especially low-key lighting)
• Location/set
• Costume and make-up
• Props
• Casting and performance style
• Blocking (the composition of elements within the shot).
Q3) This is the representation question:
At it's simplest, representation is about how people are depicted in the extract. You can look at how other things are being represented such as places, events, aliens, monsters, ideas - but it is best to start with people. Stereotyping is such as big issue in representation that it I often the best place to start. What stereotypes of people do you often find in action/adventure films?
Look carefully at the representations in the film. Do the main characters conform to representations that we can understand as real people.
Is Robin a hyper real superhero (Superman?) or is he down to earth and essentially human – what events and details display his character.
Maid Marian is arguably the most modern individual represented in the film – why?
In any film look at:
- How different genders are represented.
- How different age groups are represented.
- How the representations construct our emotional connection with the characters.
- What effects the representations have on the audience.
- Whether the representations can be interpreted in different ways.
January26th Computer room - finish your camera shots and angles moviemaker or powerpoint and also add the new category of Mise En Scene - Costume, Lighting, Actors, Makeup, Props , Setting (this is the largest section and should include urban, suburban, rural as well as day and night shots and unusual locations etc)- find action adventure images on google. If you have a youtube account you can then upload yourselves or I will upload it through mine and we can put link on to the wikispaces.January 19th Computer room - make sure you are finishing your homework and uploading it on to your wiki. Also please make sure your Rebel controlled assessment, dvd cover and poster are on there. I will be emailing your parents next week with the homework news, if you are having trouble finishing these tasks you need to find time after school to complete them.
Today's task: Create a powerpoint with the heading Camera shots, google different shots: low angle, medium shot, high angle shots , also find shots for close up, medium shot, long shots and extreme long shots (if you can find action adventure shots even better and discuss why they used that particular shot and what the effect is).
January 12th Computer room - please upload your action adventure charts onto your wikispaces, any problems please ask. Search for your favourite action adventure film of all time and describe it's setting, themes, characters, icons, narrative, characters and find some images to go with it. Also upload this onto your blog.
January 5th Computer room
Create a chart similar to the teen movies one you produced naming as many different kinds of action adventure genres (ie disaster, historical, war etc see if you can come up with 10!) as possible down the left hand side and include the headings - Settings, Themes, Icons, Narrative, Characters and Film titles along the top. Your first homework this term will be to complete this chart. Any questions just ask or email!
Homeworks this half term due every Wednesday -
January 12th - action/adventure genre chartJanuary 19th - storyboard an action adventure trailer
January 26th - practise exam paper
February 2nd - practise paper
Thank you to Claudia and Paige for their presentations last week, really useful for everyone to revise from for the exam in March. Katie will finish hers tomorrow and I want everyone else ready to present. Liv you must fill in your analysis as your presentation was empty. After Christmas we'll get into sitcom groups and present our ideas and in Feb we will study action adventure films and revise camera, editing, mise en scene and sound in preparation for the year 10 exam.